Accountability

One of the hardest things in life is to deal with the issue of accountability. Certainly, God has promised us His forgiveness and love. God has placed in our world so many blessings and so many things to enjoy. Part of that is to enjoy God’s loving forgiveness. At the same time, the Bible is clear about accountability. In Galatians 6, Paul writes in vv. 7-9,

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

This interesting statement about reaping what we sow makes it clear that there is accountability. So much is said in our society today about our culture being a kind of “entitlement culture”; that is, we feel entitled to get so many benefits without ever doing the work or putting forth the effort for them. Matthew 25 is very clear in three stories that Jesus told that there is an accountability for what we do. It seems to me that this simple idea of reaping what we sow is not a harsh thing but a healthy thing for all of us to understand. We teach our children to study their lessons for school so that they learn. Yet, we, as adults, often skip responsibilities, don’t follow the teachings of Jesus, and expect there to be no accountability or consequences.

In Matthew 25, Jesus says that there is a judgment day. We will be separated: sheep from goats. In the same chapter, He tells us that we will be judged on what we do with what we have been given, that we will be allowed into the feast only if we are prepared. I know this sounds like your mother telling you to pick up your clothes, your teacher telling you to do your studies, or the highway patrolman telling you to slow down.

I pray that we remember that accountability is a good thing for governments, church leaders, and average, ordinary people like me and you!

Final Instructions

Our culture in the United States has shifted significantly in the last 15 years. There was a time when we truly were a nation that celebrated being “under God.” Today, while we may historically be a nation under God, our culture is much more non-Christian, agnostic, or atheistic. We claim to practice freedom of religion, but there are a lot of negative comments toward the Christian in our culture today. Therefore, it becomes difficult for the average Christian to share the faith. Yet, when you read Matthew 28:18-20, there is no question about it. Jesus’ final instructions were to go make disciples. It wasn’t a choice; it was a commandment. Since that time, theologians have called it the Great Commission. Whatever we call it, these were His final instructions.

I have struggled greatly with this understanding throughout my entire ministry. Making disciples is so important. Yet, as our culture has changed in the last 15 years, I have come to realize that sometimes it is very difficult for a Christian to share his faith. The criticisms are great; the lack of concern is significant. Still, we are called to make disciples.

It is out of this concern that I have written a book called TELL. It is about how to share your faith in a very secular time – how to tell the story of Jesus Christ in a sometimes agnostic world – how to share the faith with your skeptical nephew who hasn’t been to church since he was three; how to explain your beliefs without getting into arguments or creating confusion about the differences of denominations and the points of view of individual Christians.

The fact that the culture has changed and it’s difficult to share is not a valid excuse for not sharing our faith. It is simply a description of where we are called to share and work. The book TELL deals clearly with four ideas that are absolutely necessary for us to be effective in telling others about Jesus Christ. The the publisher finished the book last week; it is available through our website or by emailing us here. See our website for more details about the book and read some very motivating endorsements from church leaders across the country! 

If you would like me to speak on evangelism in your local church, please email us here. Like us on Facebook and follow us Twitter!

Photo Credit: Busy Nation Under God Contemporary Flag Oil Painting by Laurie
painting by artist Laurie Justus Pace taken from http://www.dailypainters.com/paintings/69654/Busy-Nation-Under-God-Contemporary-Flag-Oil-Painting-by-Laurie-Pace/.